Overhead-trolley-wire switch



(No Model.)

R. M. HUNTER. OVERHEAD TROLLEY WIRE SWITCH.

No. 499,461. Patented June 13, 1893. I

THE nonms mans cu. PNOTO-LITNO., WASHINGTON, o, c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

OVERHEAD-TROLLEY-Wl RE SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,461, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed February 2, 1893. Serial No. 460,707. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electric-Railway Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionhas reference to switches for suspended electric conductors of electric railways, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

This application, Case No. 241, has particular reference to electric railways employing suspended conductors and branching tracks and comprehends certain improvements for guiding trolley wheels from the main conductor to abranching conductor, or vice versa.

In carrying out my invention I arrange above the branching track, suspended conductors, that uponthe main track being preferably continuous but having at the point of the switch an upwardly extending bend which is clamped between two inverted U shaped plates of the switch. From one of these inverted U shaped plates is projected an oblique clamp for receiving the end of the branching suspended conductor. The plan view of the switch is in appearance Y shaped and there are openings upward from the bottom to permit the ready passage of the flanges of the trolley wheel either in passing along the main track or in passing to or from the branching track. The structure is a rigid structure and one which does not require the trolley to be depressed in passing from one track to another. Furthermore, it is light in construction, ornamental in appearance, and exceedingly durable.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the main and branching conductors united by myimproved switch. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the main conductor showing its arrangement in the switch structure, half of which is shown removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig; 1. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of an electric railway showing the relation of the suspended conductors, switches and tracks.

A is the main suspended conductor and is arranged above the main track H in any well known manner.

B is the suspended conductor of the branching track I, and is likewise supported in an suitable manner.

J is a rail switch for guiding the cars to or from the branching track.

C is my improved trolley switch which is arranged at the juncture of the suspended conductors A, B. The main conductor A at the place where the switch is to be attached, is bent upward into a curve as at K in Fig. 2, and is clamped in this shape between the plates D, D of the trolley switch C, said plates being made inverted U shape and clamped together by suitable bolts d. The plate D is provided with an obliquely and downwardly projecting curved plate D which receives the end of the branching suspended conductor B and to which it is clamped by a plate E and screws 6. It will thus be observed that by this switch structure C of the branching conductor B has its end held in definite relation with the main conductor A, and at the same time to leave an upwardly extending space L between the working ends of the conductors A, A, B to permit the ready passage of the flanges of the trolley in any direction. It will be observed that when the car is moving along the main railway track H, the trolley wheel F will pass along the under side of the conductor A and continue on the conductor A, one of its flanges having passed between the plate D and plate D If the car G is passed from the main track H onto the branching track I as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the trolley wheel F will be pulled to the position indicated in dotted lines in the several figures, in which case its flanges will pass between the gap L formed in the main conductor A and the end. of the conductor B willbe received in the groove of the trolley wheel as it is guided upon the conductor B.

, I do not confine myself to the details of construction as it is evident that they may be modified in various ways without departing from the principles of my invention.

branching track, the combination of a main conductor A having an inverted bend K, a suspended branch conductor B, a rigid trolley switch 0 consisting of parts D, D, D and E firmly clamped together and to the conductors A and B so as to form the space L opening downward for the free passage of the flanges of the trolley wheel. I

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

R. M. HUNTER. Witnesses:

HELEN L. MOTHERWELL, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER. 

